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April 9, 2009

White House Behind The Scenes: Euro Edition

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The White House has just posted this 28 pic, “behind the scenes” photo gallery of Obama’s trip to Europe. With some exceptions, the series — “as advertised” — is particularly utilitarian. (I did especially like the photo of Air Force One enshrouded in fog. Maybe Souza’s message there, conveying humility, is that it’s not always so easy to see the way.)

This last shot was taken on the way to Iraq and features a nice cross-section of the senior brain trust, including NSC head Jim Jones left, Axelrod, Rahm and Gibbs. In terms of relationships, Axelrod, Rahm and Gibbs form a strong triangle with Rahm in the power spot (and Axelrod characteristically set back behind “the man”). One thing I was wondering, is it just the effect of the light, or is there a preponderance of blue shirts here, more suggestive of “group think” than “team of rivals.” And then, those crossed cords also made me also think about like, if inverted shapes.

To the extent the obvious one-liner here is “having one’s wires crossed,” I think Souza is saying the Administration’s sense of humor remains intact.

(3:30 PST – slightly revised)

(image: Pete Souza/White House. caption: National Security Advisor General James Jones, left, and United States Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Joe Clancy, right, are seen aboard Air Force One flying to Iraq April 7, 2009, as they coordinate arrival details by telephone for President Barack Obama’s visit to Baghdad. Joined also by White House Senior Advisor David Axelrod; Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel; Presidential Scheduler Alyssa Mastromonaco; Jim Messina, Deputy Chief of Staff; White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, and National Security Counsel Chief of Staff Mark Lippert, background-right)